Recent studies have shown that hippocampus plays an important role in working memory (Olson, Page et al., 2006; Piekema, Kessels et al., 2006) and reduced hippocampal volume is associated with reduced working memory function (Isaacs, Lucas et al., 2000; Gimenez, Junque et al., 2004; Beauchamp, Thompson et al., 2008). The hippocampus is very vulnerable in preterm children (Abernethy, Palaniappan et al., 2002), and white matter injury, which is very common in preterm born children (Rees and Inder 2005; Thompson, Warfield et al., 2007), has been shown to result in reduced hippocampal volumes at term age (Thompson, Wood et al., 2008). Studies have indicated that working memory relies on a distributed network of brain regions which includes the hippocampus (Piekema, Kessels et al., 2006; Beauchamp, Thompson et al., 2008).

Aim
This study will compare quantitative EEG findings and cognitive and neuropsychological test results before and after training with the Cogmed JM program in a group of VLBW children of preschool age (ie.,5-6 years old). Fifteen children will train with the adaptive version of Cogmed followed 8 weeks later by the 15 children in the waitlist control group. It is hypothesized that children in the study may respond positively to the computerized training and show improved working memory to different degrees depending on the underlying neurological condition. Training may also benefit additional executive functions and have a generalizing effect on learning.